Top court to decide fate of Obama’s Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide a lawsuit that threatens the Obama-era health care law, but the decision is not likely until after the 2020 election.
The court said it would hear an appeal by 20 mainly Democratic states of a lower-court ruling that declared part of the statute unconstitutional and cast a cloud over the rest.
Defenders of the Affordable Care Act argued that the issues raised by the case are too important to let the litigation drag on for months or years in lower courts and that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans erred when it struck down the health law’s now toothless requirement that Americans have health insurance.
The case will be the third major Supreme Court battle over the law popularly known as Obamacare since its passage in 2010. The court has twice upheld the heart of the law, with Chief Justice John Roberts memorably siding with the court’s liberals in 2012, amid President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign. The majority that upheld the law twice remains on the court, Roberts and the four liberal justices.
The Trump administration supports the total repeal of the law, including its provisions that prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against people with existing health ailments. The entire health care law is in effect pending the ongoing court case.
The Democratic states had asked for a fast-track review with a decision by late June, before the 2020 elections in November. Instead, the justices probably will hear arguments in the fall, with a decision likely in the spring of 2021.
The high court action takes the case out of the hands of a federal district judge who had previously struck down the entire law.
Thousands of people want to serve on redistricting panel
LANSING(AP) — More than 6,000 people have applied to serve on Michigan's new commission that will draw districts for seats in Congress and the state Legislature.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said nearly half of the applications have been processed. Her department is now accepting public comment on a method to identify 200 semifinalists.
“The fact that so many Michiganders have applied from across the state and demographic and political spectrums shows there is tremendous interest in serving and reshaping our democracy,” Benson said.
A profile of the people whose applications have been processed is available at RedistrictingMichigan.org. The data will be updated regularly as more applications are processed. Applications have been processed from people in 82 of Michigan’s 83 counties.
Applications will being accepted through June 1. Ultimately 13 commissioners will be randomly selected: four affiliated with the Republican Party, four affiliated with the Democratic Party and five with no affiliation.
Voters amended the state constitution in 2018 to give the responsibility for drawing districts to a commission of Michigan voters.
The semifinalist pool must “mirror the geographic and demographic makeup of the state.” The proposed method for this selection is open for public comment until March 27.
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